Stand Up to Racism 2019

Stand Up to Racism works to build a stronger united movement against racism and fascism. It is holding a one-day conference on Saturday 2 February to highlight the fight for justice for Sheku Bayoh, the international growth of the far right, refugee and migrant workers’ rights, tackling racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The conference will take place in Glasgow City UNISON office, 84 Bell Street, Glasgow. On Saturday 16 March international protests will take place, coinciding with UN Anti Racism Day. The demonstration through Glasgow city centre will take place two weeks before Brexit. More information can be found at the attached link.

STUC Briefing: 2018/19 Scottish Budget

A decade of cuts and austerity has left a lasting impact on our economy. Despite high rates of employment, the quality of work is declining and in-work poverty is increasing. Cuts in the public sector are putting an ever-greater strain on the public sector workforce, even within protected departments. Stress, staff shortages, and underfunding are repeatedly highlighted as issues in every public sector workplace.

The STUC strongly believes that austerity must come to an end and focus must now turn to rebuilding and properly resourcing public services in Scotland. Local Government must be a particular priority in this respect, and properly resourcing Local Government is key to supporting local communities, the foundational economy and achieving inclusive growth.

Celebrate MayDay

Technological Change and the Scottish Labour Market

STUC Briefing: Employment Reviews

It is often said that Britain’s workforce is changing: away from large workplaces that employ hundreds of people, or public sector workers on permanent contracts and final salary pensions, to zero hours contracts, flexible work, and self-employment.

In this briefing, we take a look at how true this is and offer a critique of the current parliamentary and government ordered employment reviews on the changing nature of employment. Finally, we will look at what the trade union response has been in Scotland to date and where we go from here.

STUC Briefing: Tax

In recent years the STUC has highlighted the impact of spending cuts on society’s most vulnerable people. Scotland’s public services are in desperate need of funding, including a fully-funded pay-rise for public service workers.

The STUC therefore believes that generating higher tax revenues in Scotland would serve workers and the social good.

STUC Briefing: Austerity, Cuts, & Public Services

Austerity is having a real and meaningful impact on our communities and on the fabric of Scottish society. The public sector delivers vital services which support the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland and in many ways is the foundation of our economy.

Infrastructure, education and skills, health and wellbeing, and care for both old and young, are all shaped and delivered by the public sector and the public sector workforce is highly skilled and makes a vital contribution to Scotland.

STUC Briefing: Scottish Budget

Ahead of the Scottish Budget the STUC called on the Scottish Government to take action and use the powers of the Parliament to begin to reverse the austerity politics of Westminster, investing in our public services, raising pay for public sector workers and stimulating the economy.

STUC Briefing: Precarious Work in Care & Construction

This briefing estimates the potential number of workers in low pay and insecure work in construction and care in Scotland. Where Scottish figures are unavailable it applies UK averages to estimate Scottish specific figures. It uses ONS sources where possible, but alternative sources where ONS data is unavailable, particularly in relation to bogus self-employment.

STUC Briefing: Workers' Definition & Rights Bill

Following the work of Better Than Zero, and other trades unions and campaigning organisations, to highlight the social and economic impact of zero hours contracts and precarious work, SNP MP, Chris Stephens has introduced a Bill to eradicate zero hours contracts and tighten up the definition of a worker in UK employment law in order to attempt to mitigate employers’ exploitative use of these contacts.

This briefing looks at the relationship between collective bargaining and inclusive growth. It considers the relationship historically (in the UK) and geographically (across OECD countries) and explores potential drivers of this relationship.